Chad Griffin to Lead Human Rights Campaign

Chad Griffin, the Los Angeles-based political consultant who has been leading the legal effort against Proposition 8, is succeeding Joe Solmonese as president of the gay rights lobbying group Human Rights Campaign.

Griffin said to the HRC board this morning. "Today's generation of young people, and each generation hereafter, must grow up with the full and equal protection of our laws, and finally be free to participate in the American dream. As HRC president, I’ll approach our work with a great sense of urgency because there are real life consequences to inaction."

Griffin will start in the post on June 11.

Griffin's communications firm, Griffin-Schein, has specialized in ballot initiative campaigns in California and has represented such industry clients as Rob Reiner, Chris Albrecht and Steve Bing. After the passage of Proposition 8, Reiner, Griffin and Kristina Schake (Griffin's business partner at the time) enlisted Ted Olson and David Boies to pursue the case against the initiative by challenging its constitutionality. They also formed the American Foundation for Equal Rights, and Griffin has served as board president. HRC said that he will continue to serve on the board.